Page 103 of Pulse

The door opened as though she’d conjured him with her mind, and Liv strode into the room, followed by Spec on a pair of crutches. Liv held the door for him as he hobbled through.

A few people gasped while others murmured to each other.

Jinx, of course, had no trouble speaking his mind. “Uh, dude, didn’t you have surgery like five minutes ago? Shouldn’t you be in a hospital bed?”

“Do not go there, Jinx,” Liv snapped. She marched into the room ahead of Spec. How could she still look put together after spending a night hiding from a gunman and then waiting in the hospital?

Oh yeah, and being grazed by a bullet?

A row of neat stitches lined the side of her head, but the blood had been cleaned, and she didn’t appear to be in much pain. She wore a simple, matching pastel pink sweatsuit, trendy and stylish as always.

On the other hand, Spec had unruly hair, a day’s worth of beard growth, and skin so pale she wondered if they should have given him an extra pint of blood.

“Ah, I’m guessing he was his usual charming self to the hospital staff.”

Liv’s dark scowl had Jinx shrinking back.

“Yikes,” he muttered. “She’s frightening.”

“I had the surgery last night. It was a success. There’s no reason for me to be in the hospital anymore.”

“Sure,” Liv said, not trying to hide her sarcasm. “Why would you need to stay in a place with trained professionals monitoring you immediately after a life-saving operation?” She jammed her hands on her hips and glared at her man, but the woman couldn’t hide the affection in her gaze.

Talia mashed her lips together. It was either that or let her laughter sneak out. These two were endless entertainment.

Spec snagged the front of Liv’s top and yanked her to him, kissing her square on the mouth. “Love you, too, baby,” he whispered.

Liv rolled her eyes but stopped arguing. It seemed she knew she was only wasting her breath. If Spec didn’t want to be in the hospital, he wouldn’t stay. Spec handed her his crutches when they separated and limped toward the table.

Talia’s spine straightened as Spec neared. Beside her, Pulse tensed. He slipped his hand around her waist and drew her flush against his side. The protective move had regret crossing Spec’s face, but it didn’t last long, replaced by a pained wince.

After a few more slow, cumbersome steps, Spec made it to her and Pulse. No one spoke. Instead, they watched the show, all waiting to see what Spec would do.

Talia held her breath. This moment felt important—it was make-or-break for Pulse and his brother.

Would he thank Pulse for saving his life? Would it come with a ‘but I still want nothing to do with you?’

Her insides wavered. Thank God for Pulse’s strong arm around her. The tough façade she presented to the world would crumble if it weren’t for his support.

She had to give Spec some credit. The man didn’t back down in the face of an uncomfortable situation. He stood tall and looked Pulse square in the eye.

“I was so fucking wrong,” he said.

Talia’s jaw dropped, and Pulse’s hand tightened on her hip.

“I know it might not mean much considering what I did, but I’m fucking sorry.” He shifted his gaze to her. “You didn’t know me before I met Liv, but I was an angry fucker spiraling and losing myself to that anger. Most days, I have it under control, but clearly, I still have work to do.”

She gaped at him. Holy shit. This had to be the most sincere apology she’d ever received. Pulse stood warm and solid beside her. She’d kill to be in his head. Did he accept this? Could he feel Spec’s genuine regret as she could?

Spec shifted so his weight was on his uninjured leg. Sweat dotted his forehead, and his breathing picked up. The man had to be in severe discomfort, yet he stood and faced the people he hurt without a complaint.

“You both saved my fucking life without one second of hesitation, even though I threatened you. I’ll have to live with the shame of holding a gun on your woman for the rest of my life,” he said, focusing on Pulse again. “Aside from incorrectly judging Liv when I met her, this is my biggest fuckup.” He extended his hand to Pulse. “You’re my brother forever, and I vow to protect your woman like I would Olivia and any of the ol’ ladies.” He looked at her again. “Swear on my life you’ll never have anything to fear from me, brother.”

His hand hung in mid-air. Pulse remained frozen beside her, and for one gut-wrenching moment, Talia feared he wouldn’t take Spec’s hand and mend the rift. Could the club survive such a permanent fracture?

But then he turned his head and gazed at her with questioning eyes. He was giving her the final say. Talia had been the one in the sights of Spec’s gun, and if she couldn’t move past that, Pulse would choose her over his brother.

Her heart swelled until it felt close to bursting. This moment would have sealed the deal if she hadn’t already been in love with him.

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